COVID-19 drove the FWC to conduct almost 70% of its proceedings remotely in 2020-21 and to convene a working group with similar institutions to advance virtual proceedings and develop a justice-friendly version of Microsoft Teams, according to the umpire's annual report, which also notes a further improvement in agreement approval times.
Two of Australia's largest employers, retailers Woolworths and Coles, have today announced mandatory vaccination policies that will be rolled out in coming months.
The CFMMEU's mining and energy division has asked the FWC to halt the rollout of BHP's mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy at the Mt Arthur open cut coal mine in the Hunter Valley, claiming it is not a lawful and reasonable direction.
The NSW Supreme Court has backed the State government's use of Public Health Orders to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for certain categories of workers, dismissing arguments that the directions compromised objectors' "right" to choose what they put in their bodies.
The Public Service Association of NSW has lodged a dispute with the State IRC after the Perrottet Government announced a scheme under which 4500 public sector employees based in the regions will be offered five day's special paid leave if they sign up to help farmers bring in an expected record harvest.
The insights gained from the rapid shift to working from home during COVID-19 could lead to the adoption of a "genuine consultation" requirement under the Fair Work Act's "right to request" flexibility that might start "a conversation aimed at reaching a mutually suitable arrangement", according to a new paper by two leading IR academics.
A Queensland-based operation that establishes and runs incorporated associations to compete with registered unions is looking to tap into public unease over workplace vaccination mandates to grow their membership nationally.
The FWC has thrown out a request from an ambulance paramedic sacked for refusing the influenza vaccination to refer purported questions of law to the Federal Court.
WorkSafe Victoria has laid 58 charges against the State's health department for exposing workers to a serious risk of death or serious illness in the first stage of its COVID-19 hotel quarantine program, but it is not pursuing leaders of the program or government ministers.
The Melbourne office of the CFMMEU's construction and general division's Victorian branch has been today been declared a tier one COVID-19 exposure site, following the violent street protests last week that damaged the outside of the building.
